MARGAO
Ahead of the Dussehra festivities during the weekend, tons of marigold flowers have flooded the Margao market. And, the business seemed to have got a communal touch too this time round.
While flower vendors from Haveri and Hubli have as usual set up shop along the footpaths, pavements and roadsides in the commercial capital, members of a Hindu organisation have also descended on the ground offering marigold flowers to prospective buyers.
In fact, as many as 15 stalls have been set up by the organisation at various locations in the commercial capital and one stall at Ponda for sale of the marigold flowers.
Ravindra Pai, who is on the ground to sell the flowers under the banner of the Hindu Ekta Manch, said a beginning has been made by members of the Hindu organisations to sell marigold flowers to the devotees. “We have procured marigold flower from Maharashtra and other places for sale in and around Margao. We have found that flower vendors from Karnataka come down to Goa with huge consignment of flowers on the eve of Dussehra every year. We have decided from this year to sell the flowers in the markets at Margao and surrounding areas,” Pai said.
In fact, three persons with saffron scarves around their neck were offering sale of flowers at the KTC bus stand on Thursday.
Meanwhile, trucks-load of marigold from the neighbouring state of Karnataka has hit the commercial capital, besides a number of points along the National and State highways, throwing up the same old question whether the government has any action plan to promote marketing of the local flower produce.
Most of the vehicles have brought the flower consignment from Haveri, Hubli and other places in Karnataka.
A kilogram of marigold flower is being sold by these outside flower agents for Rs 100. Given that Dussehra is scheduled on Saturday, the price of the imported marigold flower may further come down with a host of vehicles expected to flood the local market.
In fact, a drive down on the Margao KTC bus stand road has revealed that the outside flower sellers have descended along the road, as evident by the fact that marigold flowers are being showcased for exhibition and sale.
In fact, the Margao KTC bus stand road is the major sale point for the marigold flower every year. The activity had last year thrown up questions whether the outstation vendors obtain the necessary licence from the local Margao civic body for sale of the marigold flower or whether the civic body turns a blind eye to the illegal sale of flowers.
In fact, the virtual dumping of marigold flowers by the outstation sellers and agents from the neighbouring states had triggered a debate of sorts last year, more so when farmers in Goa had registered a bumper marigold flower production.
Last year, the government had expressed its inability to stop the import and sale of marigold flowers by Karnataka vendors, but the Agriculture Department headed by outgoing Director, Neville Afonso had made an impassioned plea to the people to support the local farmers by purchasing the flowers for the Dussehra festival.
“If the local bodies, be it the panchayat or municipal bodies have the will, they can stop the sale of the flower imported by agents in the State since no trade can take place without the permission from the local bodies,” remarked a senior government official.
